Hat-brim.



RICHARD ALEXANDER THRATT, OF IVANHOE, NORTH CAROLINA.

HAT-BRIM.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application filed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254,817.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD ALEXANDER THRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ivanhoe, in the county of Sampson and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Hat-Brim, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates generally to hats,

- and particularly to one of that kind having scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a hat,

' showingthe brim of the present invention combined therewith. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of the brim-supporting member. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the brim, a portion of the margin of which is broken away.

Referring to the drawings, H designates a hat, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction and made of any mate rial.

The device ofthe present invention is designed more particularly for use in connection with hats worn in hot climates, where it is customary for the lower part of the crown of the hat to be provided with ventilatingopenings V, which, as shown in Fig. 1, extend through the sweat-band B, and these are of such size that in rainy weather water will enter therethrough, and thus to the head of the wearer.

As will hereinafter appear, the brim of the present invention provides not only for the proper ventilation of the head, but also to cut off the passage of air or water through the ventilating-openings, if necessary or desirable.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates generally the brim-supporting member, and 2 the brim. The brim-supporting member comprises a brim-section 3 and a crown-engaging band 4, of any suitable material. The brim-section 8 will be made of a material that will combine rigidity and lightness, thus to enable it to support the brim in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the crownengaging band 4 is made of some yielding material which will permit it to be turned over upon itself for a purpose that will presently be described. The crown engaging band 4 is provided with a series of ventilating-openings 5, which when the member is positioned upon the hat, as shown in Fig. 1, register with the ventilating openings V therein and will thus insure passage of the requisite amount of air to keep the head of the wearer cool. When the ventilatingopenings 5 are to be closed, thus to preclude entrance of rain through the openings V, the crown-engaging band is turned over upon itself, as indicated by dotted lines at 6 in Fig. 1, and will thus in a ready and practical manner secure the object designed.

Combined with the brim-supporting member 3 is a series of radially-disposed arms-in this instance four, although a greater number may be employed, if found necessary or desirable. Each of these arms consists of an inner member 7 and an outer member 8, the two members being connected by a slip-joint 9, which will permit of the members 8 being extended when the brim is to be combined with the brim-supporting member and to be collapsed or retracted when the brim is to be detached. Each of the members 7 has its inner end projected through the brim-section 3, as shown at 10, and is held against movement adjacent to the periphery of the brim by a-keeper 11. The outer end of each member 8 is bifurcated and formed into two clamping elements 12 and 13, these being caused to approach each other by means of a I band 14, mounted upon the member.

The brim 2 is provided with a central orifice 15, which is of a size to fit closely around the crown-engaging band, and has at its periphery a wire 16, which is held in position by having the material of the brim sewed or otherwise secured around it, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The brim is made of any suitable material that will combine lightness, strength, and water-resisting qualities. The wire 16, in addition to reinforcing the brim, also serves as a means of combining the brim with the supporting member 1 through the medium of the clamping members 12 and 13, and

IIO

when these are in engagement with the wire and the arms 7 and 8 are distended the brim will be supported, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus form an effective shield for protecting the wearer against rain and the heat of the sun.

In the employment of the brim of this invention the brim-suporting member is first positoned upon the crown of the head with the ventilating-orifices 5 in register with those of the ventilating-openings V of the hat, the arm members 8 being retracted. The brim is then placed over the crown of the hat and rests upon the brim-section 3, and

the clamps are then brought into engagement with the wire 16 and locked in this po sition by the bands 14, after which the arms are extended, and thus place the brim under requisite tension to cause it to occupy a flat and smooth plane. Where the use of the brim is not desired, the same may readily be detached from the member 1, and the latter may be left upon the hat, or both of the parts may be detached, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An article of the class described comprising a brim-supporting member having a relatively stiff brim-section and a flexible crown-engaging band provided with ventilating-openings.

2. An article of the class described comprising a brim-supporting member having a relatively stifi brim-section and a flexible crown-engaging band provided with ventiletting-openings, extensible arms carried by the brim-section and provided with terminal clamping elements, and a brim having a reinforced brim to be engaged by the clamping elements.

3. The combination with a hat provided with ventilating-openings, of a brim-supporting member having a relatively stifl. brim-section and a flexible crown-engaging band provided with ventilating openings adapted to register with those in the hat and to be closed by the crown-engaging band, and a brim combined with the brim-supporting member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD ALEXANDER THRAT'I.

Witnesses:

P. H. MELVIN, J. M. BEATTY. 

